Actions of the Month (March)

Actions of the Month for March 2020

Action: Thank Rep Katie Porter (D-CA)

For persisting in her questioning of CDC Director Redfield to direct funding for coronavirus testing for all, regardless of insurance coverage. Call: Washington DC office: (212) 225-5611; CA office: (949) 668-6600; Or Write:

Rep. Katie Porter, 1117 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515

Background:

Rep. Porter persisted in questioning CDC Director Robert Redfield to say “YES” to using his power to make the coronavirus (COVID 19) testing free for anyone regardless of insurance coverage. (see CNN article “Rep. Katie Porter gets CDC chief to agree to pay for coronavirus testing” for details and video)

Script:

Hello, this is [your name] calling from [your town, state] and I am calling to Thank Rep Porter for persisting in questioning CDC Director Robert Redfield and having him say “YES” to using his power to make the coronavirus (COVID 19) testing free for anyone regardless of insurance coverage. [Mention why this is important to you, ie: better management of the virus; providing treatment efficiently and effectively; having accurate statistics and data with which to plan support and intervention; better planning for your own vulnerabilities and health concerns; etc.]

Make Healthcare facilities ICE enforcement-free zones

Call or Write: Call via the DHS comment line at 202-282-8495. Write - Chad F. Wolf, Acting Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201;

Script (adapt as appropriate for postcard): Hello, I’m from [ZIP] and want to express my concern about the impact of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in public health institutions. As COVID-19 spreads, aspiring Americans currently face a troubling choice: seek treatment and risk ICE deporting them, or go untreated and risk spreading the disease in their homes and communities. This policy puts all Americans at risk, which is why I’m asking you to issue a public statement that healthcare facilities will be immigration enforcement-free zones for the duration of the outbreak.

Send Urgently Needed Relief to Americans AND Protect our Elections

Senate Appropriations Committee- Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy; (802) 863-2525 or (802) 229-0569

Suggested Script:

Hello. My name is ___. My address (including zip code) is ___. My phone number is ___. I’m calling to get a message to both Senators Richard Shelby and Patrick Leahy in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. I am concerned about the devastation that the coronavirus is causing for so many Americans and the impact it could have on our elections. I want the senators to urge the other members of the Appropriations Committee to do four important things to help ease this humanitarian crisis:

1. Insist that, along with any relief package, there is a related bill to protect the 2020 elections – one that requires every state to allow both early voting (with drop-off ballots) and voting by mail, as well as federal funding for a rapid switch to those systems in the coming months;

2. Vote to immediately approve the relief included in House Bill H.R. 6201 waiting for a vote in the Senate;

3. Use your congressional power to pass additional Federal Emergency Fiscal Relief measures that will get “direct payments” and temporary loan payment suspensions to families, workers, and small businesses; and

4. Ensure that there is no coronavirus corporate welfare or industry “bailout” without first providing significant useful relief for individuals and small businesses.

Thank you.

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development- Vice Chairman Sherrod Brown; (216) 522-7272 or (513) 684-1021

Suggested Script:

Hello. My name is ___. My address (including zip code) is ___. My phone number is ___. I’m calling to get a message to both Senators Mike Crapo and Sherrod Brown in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development. I am concerned about the devastation that the coronavirus is causing for so many Americans and the impact it could have on our elections. I want the senators to urge the other members of the Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee to do four important things to help ease this humanitarian crisis:

2. Vote to immediately approve the relief included in House Bill H.R. 6201 waiting for a vote in the Senate;

4. Ensure that there is no coronavirus corporate welfare or industry “bailout” without first providing significant useful relief for individuals and small businesses.

Thank you.

Call Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell; Dial (859) 578-0188 or (270) 781-1673

Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator McConnell because I am concerned about the devastation that the coronavirus is causing for so many Americans and the impact it could have on our elections. I want Senator McConnell to use his authority as Majority Leader to urge the other members of the Senate to do four important things to help ease this humanitarian crisis:

2. Vote to immediately approve the relief included in House Bill H.R. 6201 waiting for a vote in the Senate;

4. Ensure that there is no coronavirus corporate welfare or industry “bailout” without first providing significant useful relief for individuals and small businesses.

As we know, these efforts are needed, and are supported by a vast and overwhelming number of Americans.

Thank you.

Call Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer; Dial (518) 431-4070 or (607) 772-6792

Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator Schumer because I am concerned about the devastation that the coronavirus is causing for so many Americans and the impact it could have on our elections. I want Senator Schumer to use his authority as Minority Leader to urge the other members of the Senate to do four important things to help ease this humanitarian crisis:

2. Vote to immediately approve the relief included in House Bill H.R. 6201 waiting for a vote in the Senate;

4. Ensure that there is no coronavirus corporate welfare or industry “bailout” without first providing significant useful relief for individuals and small businesses.

As we know, these efforts are needed, and are supported by a vast and overwhelming number of Americans.

Thank you.

Pass the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020

Natural disasters and public health emergencies like COVID-19, or hurricanes and floods, or wildfires in the Western United States are occurring more frequently than ever before. If these events happen close to elections, they can affect the ability of victims to vote on Election Day. The lack of sufficient voting options in many states and insufficient emergency ballot procedures can leave many voters disenfranchised. We have already seen limited incidences of poll workers not showing up on Election Day this year, due to fears of the coronavirus. The recent tornadoes in Tennessee on Super Tuesday greatly impacted voting in the state. Emergencies that happen close to an election day can have a lasting impact as polling places deal with flooding, lack of power, or other unsafe conditions. The Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act (NDEBA) represents a commonsense solution to ensuring the 2020 elections, and future elections, are resilient to emergencies and that we are protecting the voting rights of those in harm’s way as well as emergency responders.

Call Senate Committee on Rules and Administration- Vice Chair Klobuchar; Dial (507) 288-5321 or (218) 287-2219

Suggested Script:

Hello. My name [is ________]. My address [including ZIP is _____]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling to get a message to “both” Senators Roy Blunt and Amy Klobuchar in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. I want “both” of the Senators to do all they can to pass the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020 to ensure that, during a national emergency, every American has a safe way to vote and participate in our democracy.

Write to insure that more testing for the Coronavirus is available

Call or Write: Call via the DHS comment line at 202-282-8495. Write - Chad F. Wolf, Acting Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201;

Script: I am writing to you about my concern for the lack of testing available to all Americans who may have symptoms of COVID-19 or been exposed to the virus. We know from how South Korea has been able to reduce the number of new infections, that testing is essential to flattening the curve associated with this pandemic. Currently, most states do not have access to adequate testing and Doctor’s do not have the tools to do their job. Additionally, we need to insure that all testing for those in need is free and accessible to our most vulnerable populations.

Are you Interested in Sending Postcards to Voters in Florida?

If you have time to write some postcards email: ValleyActionGroup@gmail.com. State how many addresses you would like to complete at home and mail. This month’s campaign is to send postcards to Registered Democratic Voters in Miami-Dade County reminding them to enroll in Florida’s Vote by Mail Program. Email for more details.